What are the eligibility requirements for an alternate assessment?

A student with significant cognitive impairment meets eligibility requirements to take alternate state assessments (for CA, see California Alternative Assessments), if they:

• Have a “significant cognitive disability,”
• “the student is learning content linked to (derived from) the Common Core State Standards (CCSS),” and
• If the child requires “extensive, direct individualized methods of accessing information in alternate ways.”

Ricki Sabia, J.D., Senior Education Policy Advisor with the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), recommends that parents find the alternate assessment participation criteria on their state’s Department of Education website. If possible, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the criteria before an IEP meeting so you have the information you need to decide whether or not your child should take an alternate assessment.

For more information, see Statewide Assessments 101.